Preserving cell phone battery life

ABSTRACT

A method of operating a mobile electronic device includes connecting, by an electronic device, to a network and transmitting, by the electronic device, at least one communication to the network. The method also includes identifying, by a processor of the electronic device, at least one communication parameter of the at least one communication and determining, by the processor of the electronic device, a first disconnect time as which to disconnect from the network based on the at least one communication parameter identified by the processor. The method further includes disconnecting from the network at the first disconnect time.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to, and is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/364,763, filed Feb. 2, 2012, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Daily use of mobile communication devices, such as cell phones, hasdramatically increased over past decades. It has become more difficultfor users to maintain mobile device power in between charges due to thisincreased use, limitations in battery technology and the inability toaccess electricity for periods of time.

Typically, mobile devices remain continually connected to the network tocheck for incoming data. A large percentage of the time, however, amobile device is not actively used to exchange communications, such asphone calls, e-mails and messaging. The continued network connectioncontributes to a large power consumption of the mobile device comparedto the limited amount of time the mobile device is actively being usedduring the continued network connection. Some mobile devices offer apower-saving mode (i.e. airplane mode), during which time the deviceremains disconnected from the network. Users may also choose to turn thedevices off to preserve power. But in both the power-saving mode and thepower off state, users cannot receive or send any communication.

This document describes methods and systems that are directed to solvingat least some of the problems described above.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a method of operating a mobile electronic deviceincludes connecting, by an electronic device, to a network andtransmitting, by the electronic device, at least one communication tothe network. The method also includes identifying, by a processor of theelectronic device, at least one communication parameter of the at leastone communication and determining, by the processor of the electronicdevice, a first disconnect time as which to disconnect from the networkbased on the at least one communication parameter identified by theprocessor. The method further includes disconnecting from the network atthe first disconnect time.

In some embodiments, the method also includes detecting, by theprocessor of the electronic device, an instruction received at a userinterface of the electronic device. The determining, by the processor ofthe electronic device, when to disconnect from the network is based onthe received instruction at the user interface.

In some embodiments, identifying at least one communication parameterincludes identifying a time when the at least one communication wastransmitted to the network, and the method also includes receiving aninstruction to disconnect from the network when an amount of time haselapsed from the time when the at least one communication wastransmitted to the network. Determining when to disconnect from thenetwork includes determining when to disconnect from the network basedon the amount of time that has elapsed from the time when the at leastone communication was transmitted to the network.

In some embodiments, identifying at least one communication parameterincludes identifying a type of communication and determining when todisconnect from the network includes determining when to disconnect fromthe network based on the type of communication.

In some embodiments, the type of communication is selected from a groupof communication types consisting of voice transmissions, text messages,multi-media messages and e-mails.

In some embodiments, identifying at least one communication parameterincludes identifying an alphanumeric communication parameter from agroup of alphanumeric communication parameters which include at leastone alphanumeric character, a combination of alphanumeric characters, anumber of occurrences of the alphanumeric character included in the atleast one communication and the number of occurrences of the combinationof alphanumeric characters included in the at least one communication.Determining when to disconnect from the network includes determiningwhen to disconnect from the network based on the least one alphanumericcharacter of the at least one communication.

In some embodiments, identifying at least one communication parameterincludes identifying a destination of the at least one communication anddetermining when to disconnect from the network includes determiningwhen to disconnect from the network based on the destination of the atleast one communication.

In some embodiments, the at least at least one communication includes afirst communication and a second communication. Identifying at least onecommunication parameter includes identifying communication parameters ofthe first communication as a time that the first communication wastransmitted and a destination of the first communication. Identifying atleast one communication parameter also includes communication parametersof the second communication as a time that the second communication wastransmitted and the destination of the first communication. Determiningwhen to disconnect from the network is based on an amount of timebetween the time that the first communication was sent to thedestination and the time that the second communication was sent to thedestination.

In some embodiments, the method includes determining, by the processor,when to reconnect to the network after disconnecting from the networkbased on the at least one communication parameter of the at least onecommunication.

In an embodiment, a method of operating a mobile electronic deviceincludes connecting, by an electronic device, to a network andtransmitting, by the electronic device, a first communication to thenetwork. The method also includes identifying, by a processor of theelectronic device, at least one communication parameter of the firstcommunication and determining, by the processor of the electronicdevice, a second transmitting time for transmitting a secondcommunication to the network based on at least one communicationparameter identified by the processor. The method also includesdisconnecting, by the electronic device, from the network anddetermining, by the processor of the electronic device, a reconnectingtime for reconnecting to the network based on the second transmittingtime determined by the processor of the electronic device. The methodfurther includes reconnecting, by the electronic device, to the networkat the determined reconnecting time and transmitting the secondcommunication to the network at the second transmission time, the secondtransmission time occurring within a predetermined allowance time periodfrom the determined reconnecting time.

In some embodiments, the method includes detecting, by the processor ofthe electronic device, an instruction received at a user interface ofthe electronic device. Determining, by the processor of the electronicdevice, a second transmitting time for transmitting a secondcommunication to the network includes determining a second transmissiontime based on the received instruction at the user interface.

In some embodiments, identifying at least one communication parameterincludes identifying a time when the first communication was transmittedto the network. Determining a second transmitting time for transmittinga second communication to the network includes determining a secondtransmitting time based on the time when the first communication wastransmitted to the network and a predetermined call back time period.The predetermined call back time period corresponds to a predeterminedperiod of time that elapses from the time when the first communicationwas transmitted to the network.

In some embodiments, the method includes receiving, by the otherelectronic device, the first communication from the electronic deviceand connecting, by another electronic device, to the network. The methodalso includes identifying the at least one communication parameter ofthe first communication as the time when the first communication wastransmitted to the network, determining, by a processor of the otherelectronic device, the second transmitting time of the secondcommunication based on the time when the first communication wastransmitted and the predetermined call back time period and determining,by the processor of the other electronic device, a reconnecting time forreconnecting to the network based on the second transmitting timedetermined by the processor of the other electronic device. The methodfurther includes displaying, at a display of the other electronicdevice, the second transmitting time, disconnecting, by the otherelectronic device, from the network and reconnecting, by the otherelectronic device, to the network at the determined reconnecting time.

In some embodiments, the method also includes storing, at the electronicdevice and the other electronic device, the predetermined call back timeperiod. Determining the second transmitting time by the processor of theelectronic device includes determining the second transmitting timebased on the time when the first communication was transmitted to thenetwork and the stored predetermined call back time period. Determiningthe second transmitting time by the processor of the other electronicdevice includes determining the second transmitting time based on thetime when the first communication was transmitted to the network and thestored predetermined call back time period.

In an embodiment, a mobile electronic device operation system includesan electronic device that includes a transmitter configured to transmitat least one communication to a network, a user interface configured toreceive user instructions from a user of the electronic device and acomputing device having a processor and a memory. The memory has atleast one of the user instructions and preset instructions that instructthe processor to identify at least one communication parameter of the atleast one communication and determine a first disconnect time as whichto disconnect from the network based on the at least one communicationparameter identified by the processor and disconnect from the network atthe first disconnect time.

In some embodiments, the at least one of the user instructions andpreset instructions further instruct the processor of the electronicdevice to identify the at least one communication parameter as a timewhen the at least one communication was transmitted to the network anddisconnect from the network based on an amount of time that has elapsedfrom the time when the at least one communication was transmitted to thenetwork.

In some embodiments, the at least one of the user instructions andpreset instructions further instruct the processor of the electronicdevice to reconnect to the network after disconnecting from the networkbased on the at least one communication parameter of the at least onecommunication.

In some embodiments, the at least one of the user instructions andpreset instructions further instruct the processor of the electronicdevice to identify the at least one communication parameter as a timewhen a first communication of the at least one communication wastransmitted to the network and determine a second transmitting time fortransmitting a second communication of the at least one communicationsto the network based on the time when the first communication wastransmitted to the network and a predetermined call back time period.The predetermined call back time period corresponds to a predeterminedperiod of time that elapses from the time when the first communicationwas transmitted to the network. The at least one of the userinstructions and preset instructions further instruct the processor ofthe electronic device to disconnect the electronic device from thenetwork, determine a reconnecting time for reconnecting to the networkbased on the second transmitting time determined by the processor of theelectronic device, reconnect the electronic device to the network at thedetermined reconnecting time and transmit the second communication tothe network at the second transmission time. The second transmissiontime occurs within a predetermined allowance time period from thedetermined reconnecting time.

In some embodiments, the system also includes another electronic devicethat includes a receiver configured to receive at least onecommunication from the network and a user interface configured toreceive user instructions from a user of the other electronic device.The system further includes a display configured to display messages tothe user of the other electronic device and a computing device having aprocessor and a memory. The memory has at least one of the userinstructions from the user of the other electronic device and presetinstructions that instruct the processor of the other electronic deviceto: identify the at least one communication parameter of the firstcommunication received from the electronic device as the time when thefirst communication was transmitted to the network by the electronicdevice; determine the second transmitting time of the secondcommunication based on the time when the first communication wastransmitted to the network and the predetermined call back time period;cause the display to display a message to the user of the otherelectronic device indicating the second transmitting time; disconnectthe other electronic device from the network; and reconnect the otherelectronic device to the network at the second transmitting time.

In some embodiments, the predetermined call back time period is storedat the memory of the electronic device and the memory of the otherelectronic device. The at least one of the user instructions and presetinstructions further instruct the processor of the electronic device todetermine the second transmitting time based on the time when the firstcommunication was transmitted to the network and the predetermined callback time period stored at the electronic device. The at least one ofthe user instructions and preset instructions further instruct theprocessor of the other electronic device to determine the secondtransmitting time based on the time when the first communication wastransmitted to the network and the predetermined call back time periodstored at the other electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic device.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts illustrating processes for determining whento disconnect from a network.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating processes for determining whento transmit a communication to a network and when to connect to anetwork.

FIG. 6 illustrates a system including multiple electronic devices.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a second electronicdevice for determining a connection time to a network for receiving acommunication from a first electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used in this document, “a network” may be a wired or wirelesscommunications network such as a local area network, a wide areanetwork, an intranet, the Internet or another network.

As used in this document, a statement that a device or system is“connected to a network” may mean that devices or systems are configuredto transmit and receive data, commands and/or queries via a network.

As used in this document, a statement that a device or system is “indirect data communication with” another device or system may mean thatdevices or systems are connected to each other in a real-time state oftransmitting and receiving data, commands and/or queries with each othervia a network.

A “destination” may refer to any network destination of a communication,such as an e-mail address, a phone number, a physical address in anetwork, an Internet protocol address, and a website or web address.

A “computing device” may refer to a computer, a processor and/or anyother component, device or system that performs one or more operationsaccording to one or more programming instructions.

This disclosure is not limited to the particular systems, devices andmethods described, as these may vary. Also, the terminology used in thisdocument is only for the purpose of describing the particular versionsor embodiments only, and it is not intended to limit the scope.

As used in this document, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used inthis document have the same meanings as commonly understood by one ofordinary skill in the art. Nothing in this document is to be construedas an admission that the embodiments described in this document are notentitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention. Asused in this document, the term “comprising” means “including, but notlimited to.”

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an electronic device 100. Examples ofsuitable electronic devices include portable devices such as mobilephones, personal digital assistants, tablet computers, e-books, portablecomputers and the like. The embodiments described in this documentrelate to electronic devices that may include a user interface. Forexample, the electronic device 100 may include a user interface 106configured to receive user instructions from a user of the electronicdevice 100 and a display 114 configured to display information to theuser. The user interface may include a touch-sensitive input componentthat is integrated with the display, such as a capacitive, resistive orother type of touch screen. Alternatively, the touch-sensitive componentmay be an item of hardware that is separate from the display, touch as atouch pad or trackpad, such as a keyboard and a mouse. The electronicdevice 100 may also receive inputs from other devices, such as a cameraand a microphone.

The electronic device 100 also includes a transceiver 102. Transceiver102 includes a transmitter configured to transmit at least onecommunication to a network 104 and a receiver for receivingcommunications from the network 104. Electronic devices may, however,include a transmitter that is separate from a receiver. The electronicdevice 100 also includes a computing device 112 having a processor 110,a tangible, computer-readable memory 108, and program instructions thatimplement a process of determining when to disconnect from the network104. In some embodiments, memory 108 is configured to store at least oneof the user instructions and preset instructions. Processor 110 may alsoreceive instructions directly by the user interface 106. In otherembodiments, instructions may be stored in a remote storage locationsuch as a networked server or a cloud storage device. If the items arestored remotely, the device may retrieve them from the remote storagelocation via one or more communication ports. The server may include aweb server, a server, a minicomputer, a mainframe computer, a personalcomputer, a mobile computing device, or other such device. The tangible,computer-readable memory 108 may include a collection of one or moredevices, at least one having a tangible computer-readable memory thatstores data in a structured format, such as one or more databases,tables, or other computer-readable files.

The embodiments described in this document may enable an electronicdevice to algorithmically determine when to disconnect from a network,when to connect to the network and when to transmit a communicationwithout being in direct data communication with another electronicdevice. Accordingly, power may be conserved in the electronic device,while minimizing delays to the exchanging of data between electronicdevices.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process for determining when todisconnect from a network. An electronic device may receive at least oneof a pre-set instruction, shown at block 200, and a user instruction,shown at blocks 201 and 205. An instruction may be received prior toconnecting to a network, as shown at blocks 200 and 201, simultaneouswith the connecting to a network or after connecting to a network, asshown at block 205. The electronic device may receive at least one of auser instruction and a preset instruction to disconnect from the networkwhen an amount of time has elapsed from the time when the communicationwas transmitted, as shown at block 202.

The processor may receive a single instruction for determining when todisconnect from a network. The processor may also receive multipleinstructions for determining when to disconnect from a network. Themultiple instructions may include any instruction shown at blocks 200,201, 202 and 205. Each instruction may be associated with the same or adifferent communication parameter, such as a communication type or adestination of the communication. Each instruction may also instruct theprocessor to determine when to disconnect. The processor mayalgorithmically prioritize the received multiple instructions todetermine when to disconnect. The priority itself may also be determinedby a user instruction or preset instruction. The priority may bedetermined based on whether the instruction is a preset instruction or auser instruction. The priority may be determined based on the type ofcommunication parameter. For example, the processor may determine todisconnect based on a destination instead of communication type. Thepriority may be determined based on the time the instruction wasreceived. For example, the processor may determine to disconnect basedon a user instruction received simultaneous with a communicationtransmission instead of a user instruction received prior to thecommunication transmission. The determination process by the processoris also described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3.

The process may include connecting, by an electronic device, to anetwork, at block 204 and transmitting, by the electronic device, atleast one communication to the network, at block 206. Communicationstransmitted by electronic devices described in the embodiments of thisdocument may include different types of communications, such as voicetransmissions, text messages, multi-media messages and e-mails, amongother types of communication. Each communication may also include asingle destination, multiple destinations corresponding to a person orentity, and multiple destinations corresponding to different people orentities. Each communication may also include an alphanumeric character,such as a letter, number or symbol and a combination of alphanumericcharacters, such as a word or group of words.

The processor of the electronic device may then identify at least onecommunication parameter for each communication transmitted to thenetwork, at block 208. For example, the processor may identify the atleast one communication parameter as a time when the at least onecommunication was transmitted to the network. The processor may identifythe at least one communication parameter as a type of communication,such as voice transmissions, text messages, multi-media messages ande-mails. The processor may also identify the at least one communicationparameter as an alphanumeric communication parameter. Alphanumericcommunication parameters may include at least one alphanumeric character(i.e. a letter or symbol), a combination of alphanumeric characters(i.e. a word or a combination of words), a number of occurrences of thealphanumeric character included in the at least one communication (i.e.a symbol or letter is repeated at least three times) and the number ofoccurrences of the combination of alphanumeric characters (i.e. a wordor combination of words is repeated at least 3 times) included in the atleast one communication. The processor may use voice recognition toidentify words, groups of words and the like for each voicetransmission. The processor may further identify the at least onecommunication parameter as a destination of the at least onecommunication.

The at least one communication may include a first communicationtransmitted by the electronic device and a second communicationtransmitted by the electronic device. The processor may identify acommunication parameter of the first communication indicating a time thefirst communication was transmitted and a communication parameterindicating a destination of the first communication. If a secondcommunication is transmitted by the electronic device to the network,shown in phantom at block 212, the processor may also identify acommunication parameter of the second communication at block 208,indicating a time the second communication was transmitted and acommunication parameter indicating the same destination as thedestination of the first communication. When a parameter is identifiedby the processor of the electronic device, the processor of theelectronic device may then determine when to disconnect from the networkbased on the at least one communication parameter identified by theprocessor, at block 210. When the determination to disconnect from thenetwork is made, the electronic device may be disconnected from thenetwork at block 214. The electronic device may be disconnected, atblock 214, based on different determinations made by the processor, asdescribed in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3.

After the electronic device is disconnected, at block 214, the processormay also receive at least one of the user instructions and presetinstructions for determining when to reconnect to the network afterdisconnecting from the network based on the at least one communicationparameter of the at least one communication, at block 216. The processormay make the determination of when to reconnect prior to, simultaneouslywith or after the determination of when to disconnect from the networkbased on the at least one communication parameter. The processor maydetermine when to disconnect and determine when to reconnect based onthe same communication parameters. The processor may also determine whento disconnect and determine when to reconnect based on the differentcommunication parameters.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process for determining when todisconnect from the network. FIG. 3 illustrates one method of aprocessor algorithmically determining when to disconnect from a network.As described above, however, a processor may algorithmically prioritizereceived instructions in any order based on a number of differentfactors, such as: whether the instruction is a user instruction orpreset instruction: a type of communication parameter; and the time theinstruction was received. Accordingly, a processor may detect aninstruction at different times and may determine whether to disconnectbased on the detected instructions in a process different from thatshown at FIG. 3. At block 302, the processor detects whether aninstruction is received at a user interface of the electronic device. Auser input instruction may be received by the electronic device, shownin phantom at block 201, prior to transmission of a communication to thenetwork, at block 206. For example, if the processor identifies the atleast one communication parameter as a time when the at least onecommunication was transmitted to the network, the electronic device mayreceive a user input instructing the processor to transmit acommunication and disconnect from the network when an amount of time(i.e. 20 minutes) has elapsed from the time when the at least onecommunication was transmitted to the network, at block 202.Alternatively, a user input instruction may be received by theelectronic device, shown in phantom at block 205, substantiallysimultaneous with transmission of a communication to the network, atblock 206. For example, an electronic device may include a single userinput instructing the processor to transmit a communication anddisconnect from the network immediately after the communication istransmitted.

User input instructions, at blocks 201 and 205, may also includeinstructions based on parameters other than a time when the at least onecommunication was transmitted to the network. For example, the processormay also identify another communication parameter, such as acommunication type, and the user input instruction may also instruct theprocessor to determine when to disconnect from the network based on theother communication parameter, such as the communication type. Forexample, the processor may identify the communication parameter as atext message, and the user input instruction may instruct the processorto determine to disconnect from the network after a predetermined timeelapses from the time a text message is transmitted, such as forexample, 5 minutes after a text message is transmitted. In anotherexample, the processor may identify the communication parameter as ane-mail, and the user input instruction may instruct the processor todetermine to disconnect from the network after a predetermined timeelapses from the time an e-mail is transmitted, such as for example, 10minutes after an e-mail is transmitted. The predetermined times may bethe same or different for separate types of communication. Thepredetermined times may be from pre-set instructions and userinstructions.

If the processor detects that an instruction is received at a userinterface of the electronic device at block 302, the processordetermines when to disconnect from the network based on the instructionreceived at the user interface, at block 304. The processor thendisconnects the electronic device from the network based on thedetermination, at block 214.

If the processor detects that an instruction is not received at a userinterface of the electronic device at block 302, the processordetermines whether there is a preset instruction to disconnect from thenetwork when an amount of time has elapsed from the time when the atleast one communication was transmitted to the network, at block 306.The instruction may be stored at the electronic device or storedremotely at block 200, and received by the processor of the electronicdevice at block 202. If the processor detects an instruction todisconnect from the network when an amount of time has elapsed from thetime when the at least one communication was transmitted to the network,the processor determines when to disconnect based on the presetinstruction at block 307 and disconnects the electronic device from thenetwork based on the determination, at block 214.

If the processor does not detect an instruction to disconnect from thenetwork when an amount of time has elapsed from the time when the atleast one communication was transmitted to the network, the processormay then determine when to disconnect from the network based oncommunication parameters identified by the processor, shown asalternative blocks 308, 310, 312 and 314. For example, if the processoridentifies the at least one communication parameter as a type ofcommunication, such as a voice transmission, a text message, amulti-media message or an e-mail, the processor may then determine whento disconnect from the network based on the type of communication, atblock 308.

If the processor identifies the at least one communication parameter asan alphanumeric communication parameter, the processor may thendetermine when to disconnect from the network based on the least onealphanumeric character, at block 310. The alphanumeric communicationparameter may include at least one alphanumeric character, a combinationof alphanumeric characters, a number of occurrences of the alphanumericcharacter included in the at least one communication or the number ofoccurrences of the combination of alphanumeric characters included inthe at least one communication. For example, a user may want to stayconnected longer if they are more certain to receive a returncommunication in response to the transmitted communication. Thetransmitted communication may include a word, such as “doctor,” when theuser is expecting a return communication back from a doctor within apredetermined amount of time, such as 10 minutes. Accordingly, the usermay instruct the processor to stay connected for 10 minutes after acommunication, which includes the word doctor, is transmitted.

If the processor identifies the at least one communication parameter asa destination of the at least one communication, the processor may thendetermine when to disconnect from the network based on the destinationof the at least one communication, shown at block 312. For example, aprocessor may determine when to disconnect from the network based on ane-mail address, a phone number, a physical address in a network, aninternet protocol address, and a website or web address. A processor mayalso determine when to disconnect from the network based on multiple ordifferent destinations of the at least one communication. For example, auser may want to stay connected for 20 minutes after a communication issent to at least one of a spouse's work e-mail address and a spouse'spersonal e-mail address. Accordingly, the user may instruct theprocessor to stay connected for 20 minutes after the communication issent to at least one of a spouse's work e-mail address and a spouse'spersonal e-mail address. A user may want to stay connected for 10minutes after a communication is sent to a doctor's phone number.Accordingly, the user may instruct the processor to stay connected for10 minutes after a communication is sent to the doctor's phone number.

A user of an electronic device may want to determine when to disconnectfrom the network based on the frequency of communications made to aperson or entity. Accordingly, if a second communication is transmittedto the network, shown in phantom at block 212, the processor maydetermine when to disconnect from the network based on an amount of timebetween the time the first communication was sent to the destination andthe time the second communication was sent to the destination, at block314. For example, a user may want to stay connected for 10 minutes aftertwo communications were sent to a spouse (i.e. a spouse's e-mail addressor phone number) within the last hour. A user may want to stay connectedfor a longer period of time, such as 20 minutes, after more than twocommunications were sent to the spouse within the last hour.Accordingly, the user may instruct the processor to stay connected for10 minutes or 20 minutes, respectively.

A processor may determine when to disconnect from the network based onany combination of communication parameters. Accordingly, a processormay determine when to disconnect from the network based on a combinationof any of blocks 308, 310, 312 and 314. The processor may determine whento disconnect based on a hierarchy of communication parameters. Forexample, the processor may receive multiple instructions for a singlecommunication, such as (1) an instruction to disconnect from the networkafter a predetermined time elapses based on a communication type (i.e.10 minutes after an e-mail is transmitted) and (2) an instruction todisconnect from the network based on a destination of the communication(i.e. 20 minutes after the communication is sent to a spouse's e-mailaddress). The processor may then determine to disconnect from thenetwork after 20 minutes based on the destination parameter. Theprocessor may also determine to disconnect from the network after 10minutes based on the communication type parameter. The processor mayfurther determine to disconnect from the network after 15 minutes basedon the average time of the two instructions. It is also contemplatedthat other algorithms may be used to determine when to disconnect basedon multiple instructions, such as the summing the predetermined times ofthe multiple instructions.

A processor may determine when to disconnect from the network based oncommunication parameters other than the communication parametersdescribed at blocks 308, 310, 312 and 314, such as a time of day acommunication was transmitted, the geographical location (i.e. at work,at home, in a certain city, state or country) of the electronic deviceat the time the communication was transmitted using a locationidentifier, such as GPS system, or other communication parameters whichmay cause a user to want to remain connected to a network. After theprocessor determines when to disconnect from the network based on the atleast one communication parameter, the processor disconnects theelectronic device from the network based on the determination, at block214, unless there is some other intervening event, such as anothertransmitted or received communication or an additional instruction tothe processor to determine when to disconnect.

Power may also be conserved in an electronic device, while minimizingdelays to the exchanging of data between electronic devices bydetermining when to transmit a second communication to a network after afirst communication has been transmitted and when to reconnect to anetwork to transmit the second communication. FIG. 4 is a flowchartillustrating blocks of a method of determining when to transmit acommunication to a network and when to reconnect to a network. Themethod may include connecting, by an electronic device, to a network, atblock 404 and transmitting, by the electronic device, a firstcommunication to the network, at block 406. The processor may thendisconnect the electronic device from the network to conserve power, atblock 408. A processor may disconnect the electronic device from thenetwork by for example, terminating power to (turning off) a wirelessradio, a wireless adapter, an internal router, an antenna or any othercomponent that receives power in the electronic device during connectionto a network.

The processor of the electronic device may then identify at least onecommunication parameter of the first communication transmitted to thenetwork, at block 410. Examples of communication parameters identifiedby the processor may include the same parameters described above withreference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

When a parameter is identified by the processor of the electronicdevice, the processor of the electronic device may then determine asecond transmitting time for transmitting a second communication to thenetwork based on at least one communication parameter identified by theprocessor, at block 412. Blocks 414, 416 and 418 are described belowfollowing the description of the determination made by the processor atblock 412. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating, in more detail,determining the second transmitting time for transmitting a secondcommunication to the network shown at block 412 at FIG. 4.

At block 502, the processor detects whether an instruction is receivedat a user interface of the electronic device. A user input instructionmay be received by the electronic device, shown in phantom at block 401.User input instructions may include instructions based on parametersdescribed above at FIG, 2 and FIG. 3.

A user input instruction may also include determining when to transmit asecond communication based on the time when the first communication wastransmitted to the network and a predetermined call back time period, atblock 402. The predetermined call back time period corresponds to apredetermined period of time that elapses from the time when the firstcommunication was transmitted to the network. For example, the processormay receive a user input instructing the processor to transmit a secondcommunication when a predetermined period of time (i.e. 20 minutes) haselapsed from the time when the first communication was transmitted tothe network.

If the processor detects that an instruction is received at a userinterface of the electronic device at block 502, the processordetermines a second transmitting time based on the instruction receivedat the user interface, at block 504. The processor then determines areconnecting time for reconnecting to the network based on thedetermined second transmitting time, at block 414.

If the processor detects that an instruction is not received at a userinterface of the electronic device at block 502, the processordetermines whether there is an instruction to transmit a secondcommunication based on the time when the first communication wastransmitted to the network and a predetermined call back time period, atblock 506. The instruction may be stored at the electronic device orstored remotely at block 400, and received by the processor of theelectronic device at block 402. If the processor detects an instructionto transmit a second communication based on the time when the firstcommunication was transmitted to the network and a predetermined callback time period, the processor determines a second transmitting timebased on the preset instruction at block 507 and determines areconnecting time for reconnecting to the network based on thedetermined second transmitting time, at block 414. For example, if thepredetermined call back time period is 20 minutes, and the firstcommunication was transmitted at 12:00, then the processor determines totransmit the second communication at 12:20. Further, the processor maydetermine to reconnect to the network at 12:20 to transmit the secondcommunication. The processor may also determine to reconnect to thenetwork prior to the second transmitting time if the processor receivesa preset instruction or an instruction by a user to connect prior to thesecond transmission time.

If the processor determines there is no instruction to transmit a secondcommunication based on the time when the first communication wastransmitted to the network and a predetermined call back time period,the processor may then determine when to transmit a second communicationbased on communication parameters identified by the processor, shown asalternative blocks 508, 510, and 512. That is, the processor may receivea preset instruction to determine when to transmit the secondcommunication based on a communication parameter identified by theprocessor. At block 508, if the processor identifies the at least onecommunication parameter of the first communication as a type ofcommunication, such as a voice transmission, a text message, amulti-media message or an e-mail, the processor may then determine totransmit a second communication based on the type of firstcommunication. For example, if the first communication is an e-mail, theprocessor may then determine to transmit a second communication 20minutes after the e-mail was transmitted. If the first communication isa text, the processor may then determine to transmit a secondcommunication 10 minutes after the text was transmitted. The determinedtime to transmit a second communication be the same or different forseparate types of communication.

If the processor identifies the at least one communication parameter asan alphanumeric communication parameter, the processor may thendetermine when to transmit a second communication based on the least onealphanumeric character, at block 510. The alphanumeric communicationparameter may include at least one alphanumeric character, a combinationof alphanumeric characters, a number of occurrences of the alphanumericcharacter included in the first communication or the number ofoccurrences of the combination of alphanumeric characters included inthe first communication. For example, the first communication mayinclude a word, such as “doctor.” Accordingly, it may be desirable totransmit a second communication within a predetermined amount of time,such as 10 minutes, for a communication that includes a certain word,such as “doctor.” Accordingly, the processor may determine to transmit asecond communication 10 minutes after the first communication.

If the processor identifies the at least one communication parameter asa destination of the first communication, the processor may thendetermine when to disconnect from the network based on the destinationof the first communication, shown at block 512. For example, a processormay determine when to transmit a second communication based on an e-mailaddress, a phone number, a physical address in a network, an internetprotocol address, and a website or web address. A processor may alsodetermine when to transmit a second communication based on multiple ordifferent destinations of the first communication. For example, a usermay want to transmit a second communication 20 minutes after a firstcommunication is sent to at least one of a spouse's work e-mail addressand a spouse's personal e-mail address. Accordingly, the processor maydetermine to transmit a second communication to the spouse's work e-mailaddress and a spouse's personal e-mail address 20 minutes after thefirst communication was sent.

A processor may also determine when to transmit a second communicationbased on any combination of communication parameters, such as a time ofday a first communication was transmitted, the geographical location(i.e. at work, at home, in a certain city, state or country) of theelectronic device at the time the first communication was transmittedusing a location identifier, such as GPS system, or other communicationparameters which may cause a user to want to transmit as secondcommunication. Accordingly, a processor may determine when to transmit asecond communication based on a combination of any of blocks 508, 510,and 512. A processor may determine when to transmit a secondcommunication based on communication parameters other than thecommunication parameters described at blocks 508, 510, and 512. Afterthe processor determines when to transmit a second communication basedon the at least one communication parameter, the processor determines areconnecting time for reconnecting to the network based on thedetermined second transmitting time, at block 414.

A processor may determine to reconnect an electronic device prior to orsimultaneous with the determined second transmitting time. Further, aprocessor may determine the second transmission time to occur within apredetermined allowance time period from the determined reconnectingtime. For example, a processor may determine to reconnect the electronicdevice prior to the determined second transmitting time to allow a userto check for missed communications. A processor may determine anyallowance time period for any reason. The allowance time period may beset by the user. A processor may also determine the allowance timeperiod to be zero, to reconnect the electronic device simultaneous withthe determined second transmitting time.

The processor may then reconnect the electronic device to the network atthe determined reconnecting time, shown at block 416. The secondcommunication is transmitted to the network at the determined secondtransmission time, occurring within the predetermined allowance timeperiod from the determined reconnecting time at block 418.

FIG. 6 illustrates a system having multiple electronic devices.Referring to FIG. 6, the system includes the first electronic device100, having the same components described above at FIG. 1. The systemalso includes a second electronic device 600, having the same componentsas electronic device 100. Electronic devices may, however, includedifferent components as those shown at FIG. 6.

Exemplary electronic device 600 includes a user interface 606 configuredto receive user instructions from a user of the electronic device 600and a display 614 configured to display information to the user. Theuser interface 606 may include a touch-sensitive input component that isintegrated with the display, such as a capacitive, resistive or othertype of touch screen. Alternatively, the touch-sensitive component maybe an item of hardware that is separate from the display, touch as atouch pad or trackpad, such as a keyboard and a mouse. Electronic device600 may also receive inputs from other devices, such as a camera and amicrophone.

The electronic device 600 also includes a transceiver 602, having atransmitter configured to transmit at least one communication to anetwork 104 and a receiver configure to receive at least onecommunication from the network. The electronic device 600 also includesa computing device 612 having a processor 610, a tangible,computer-readable memory 608, and program instructions that implement amethod of determining when to disconnect from the network 104. In someembodiments, memory 608 is configured to store at least one of the userinstructions and preset instructions. Processor 610 may also receiveinstructions directly by the user interface 606. In other embodiments,instructions may be stored in a remote storage location such as anetworked server or a cloud storage device. If the items are storedremotely, the device may retrieve them from the remote storage locationvia one or more communication ports.

Power may also be conserved in multiple electronic devices, whileminimizing delays to the exchanging of data between the electronicdevices, by implementing a predetermined call back time period in eachof the electronic devices. Accordingly, determining a secondtransmission time and determining connection times may be done withoutthe first electronic device 100 being in direct data communication withthe second electronic device 600.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating blocks of a method of a secondelectronic device 600 determining a connection time to a network forreceiving the second communication transmitted by the first electronicdevice 100. The determination of when to connect to the network by thesecond electronic device 600 is based on the predetermined call backtime period used by the first electronic device 100 described at block506 of FIG. 5. The predetermined call back time period may be stored,for example, at memory 108 of electronic device 100 and memory 608 ofelectronic device 600. The predetermined call back time period may alsobe transmitted to each electronic device remotely. A network operatormay also inform a user of a predetermined call back time period and auser may then instruct a processor to connect to a network at theexpected call back time.

The method will be described with reference to FIG. 7 and with referenceto some blocks of the method illustrated at FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. Referringto FIG. 4, electronic device 100 receives an instruction to determinewhen to transmit a second communication based on the time when the firstcommunication was transmitted to the network and a predetermined callback time period, at block 402. After a first communication istransmitted to the network, at block 406, the processor may thendisconnect the electronic device from the network to conserve power, atblock 408. Further, as described above at FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, electronicdevice 100 may determine to transmit a second communication based on thetime when the first communication was transmitted to the network and apredetermined call back time period. For example, if the predeterminedcall back time period is 20 minutes, and the first communication wastransmitted at 12:00, then the processor determines to transmit thesecond communication at 12:20. Further, the processor may determine toreconnect to the network at 12:20 to transmit the second communication.

Referring to FIG. 7, second electronic device 600 receives the firstcommunication from first electronic device 100 at block 700. Because thefirst communication was transmitted while second electronic device 600was disconnected from the network, however, the second electronic device600 does not receive the first communication until second electronicdevice 600 connects to the network sometime after the firstcommunication was transmitted. Second electronic device 600 may receivethe first communication as a missed call notification.

Electronic device 600 then connects to the network at block 702 andidentifies the at least one communication parameter of the firstcommunication as the time when the first communication was transmittedto the network, at block 704. For example, second electronic device 600connects to the network at 12:10 and identifies a missed calltransmitted from electronic device 100 at 12:00.

Processor 610 of electronic device 600 then determines the secondtransmitting time of the second communication based on the time when thefirst communication was transmitted and the predetermined call back timeperiod, at block 706 and determines a reconnecting time for reconnectingto the network based on the determined second transmitting time at block707. As described above, the predetermined call back time period may bestored or received at both electronic device 100 and electronic device600. Accordingly, processor 610 of electronic device 600 receives thepredetermined call back time period (used by processor 110 of electronicdevice 100) prior to determining the second transmitting time of thesecond communication, at block 701. For example, processor 610determines that the second communication will be transmitted 10 minutesfrom the current time (12:10). The determination is based on the timewhen the first communication was transmitted (12:00) and thepredetermined call back time period (20 minutes). Therefore, theprocessor determines the second communication will be at 12:20. At block708, the second transmitting time is then displayed at display 614 ofthe electronic device 600, informing the user of the time to expect acall back from electronic device 100.

Electronic device 600 then disconnects from the network at block 710 toconserve power and reconnects to the network at the determinedreconnecting time at block 712 to receive the second communication fromelectronic device 100 at the determined second transmission time. Aprocessor may determine to reconnect an electronic device prior to orsimultaneously with the determined second transmitting time. Further, aprocessor may determine the second transmission time to occur within apredetermined allowance time period from the determined reconnectingtime. For example, a processor may determine to reconnect the electronicdevice prior to the determined second transmitting time to allow a userto check for missed communications. A processor may determine anyallowance time period for any reason. The allowance time period may beset by the user. A processor may also determine the allowance timeperiod to be zero and to reconnect the electronic device simultaneouswith the determined second transmitting time.

Some or all of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, oralternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many otherdifferent systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen orunanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvementstherein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, each ofwhich are also intended to be encompassed by the disclosed embodiments.

1. A method, comprising: connecting a mobile electronic device to anetwork; transmitting, by the device, a communication to the network fordelivery to a destination; identifying, by a processor, a communicationparameter of the communication, wherein the communication parametercomprises one or more of the following: the destination, a communicationtype, a time that the communication was transmitted to the network, or aperiod of time between a time that the communication is transmitted anda time that a previous communication was transmitted for the samedestination; using by the processor, the communication parameter todetermine a first disconnect time; and automatically disconnecting thedevice from the network at the first disconnect time.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising determining, by the processor, areconnecting time.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining thereconnecting time is based on the communication parameter.
 4. The methodof claim 2, further comprising: receiving, by the device, an instructionto transmit a second communication; and determining, by the processor, asecond transmitting time, wherein determining the reconnecting time isbased on the second transmitting time.
 5. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: detecting, by the electronic device, an instruction receivedat a user interface of the device, wherein the processor also uses theinstruction to determine the first disconnect time.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: the communication parameter comprises a time at whichthe communication was transmitted to the network; the method furthercomprises receiving an instruction to disconnect the device from thenetwork when an amount of time has elapsed from the time when thecommunication was transmitted to the network, and the first disconnecttime comprises the time when the communication was transmitted to thenetwork plus the elapsed amount of time.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein: the communication parameter comprises a type of communication;the type of communication comprises a voice transmission, text message,multi-media message or e-mail; and determining the first disconnect timecomprises determining the first disconnect time based on an elapsed timethat is associated with the type of communication.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: the communication parameter also comprises analphanumeric communication parameter, wherein the alphanumericcommunication parameters comprises one or more of: at least onealphanumeric character, a combination of alphanumeric characters, anumber of occurrences of the alphanumeric character included in thecommunication, or the number of occurrences of the combination ofalphanumeric characters included in the communication; and determiningthe first disconnect time also comprises determining when to disconnectthe device from the network based on the alphanumeric communicationparameter.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein: identifying at least onecommunication parameter includes identifying a destination of thecommunication; and determining when to disconnect the device from thenetwork includes determining when to disconnect from the network basedon the destination of the communication.
 10. A system, comprising: amobile electronic device comprising a transmitter configured to transmitat least one communication to a network; a user interface configured toreceive user instructions from a user of the electronic device; aprocessor; and a memory that has instructions that instruct theprocessor to: connect the device to a network; cause the transmitter totransmit a communication to the network for delivery to a destination;identify a communication parameter of the communication, wherein thecommunication parameter comprises one or more of the following: thedestination, a communication type, a time that the communication wastransmitted to the network, or a period of time between a time that thecommunication is transmitted and a time that a previous communicationwas transmitted for the same destination; use the communicationparameter to determine a first disconnect time; and automaticallydisconnect the device from the network at the first disconnect time. 11.The system of claim 10, wherein the memory also has additionalinstructions that instruct the processor to determine a reconnectingtime based on the communication parameter.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein the memory also has instructions that instruct the processor to:receive an instruction to transmit a second communication; determine asecond transmitting time for the second communication; and determine thereconnecting time also based on the second transmitting time.
 13. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the memory also has instructions thatinstruct the processor to reconnect the device to the network at thereconnecting time.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein the memory alsohas instructions that instruct the processor to: detect an instructionreceived at the user interface; and determine the first disconnect timealso based on the instruction.
 15. The system of claim 10, wherein: thecommunication parameter comprises a time at which the communication wastransmitted to the network; the memory also has instructions thatinstruct the processor to receive an instruction to disconnect thedevice from the network when an amount of time has elapsed from the timewhen the communication was transmitted to the network; and the firstdisconnect time comprises the time when the communication wastransmitted to the network plus the elapsed amount of time.
 16. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein: the communication parameter comprises atype of communication; the type of communication comprises a voicetransmission, text message, multi-media message or e-mail; and theinstructions that instruct the processor to determine the firstdisconnect time comprises instructions to determine the first disconnecttime based on an elapsed time that is associated with the type ofcommunication.
 17. The system of claim 10, further comprising: a secondelectronic device comprising: a receiver configured to receive thecommunication from the network; a user interface configured to receiveuser instructions from a user of the second electronic device; a displayconfigured to display messages to the user of the second electronicdevice; a processor; and a memory, wherein the memory has instructionsthat instruct the processor of the second electronic device to: identifythe communication parameter of the communication; determine a secondtransmitting time for a second communication based on the communicationparameter and a call back time period; cause the display to display amessage to the user of the other electronic device indicating the secondtransmitting time; disconnect the second electronic device from thenetwork; and reconnect the second electronic device to the network atthe second transmitting time.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein theinstructions that instruct the processor of the second electronic deviceto determine the second transmitting time comprise instructions fordetermining the second transmitting time based on when the firstcommunication was transmitted to the network and the call back timeperiod.